Robert V. “Bob” Thalacker

PORTAGE  --  Robert V. “Bob” Thalacker, age 56, of Portage, died on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at St. Clare Hospice Center in Baraboo.

He was born on December 22, 1956 in Portage, the son of Vernon E. and Mary Jean (Steinhaus) Thalacker.  Bob was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Harrisville, WI.  He graduated from Westfield High in 1975 and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a minor in Psychology from UW-Oshkosh in 1980.  Bob was married to Kathleen “Kathy” Krueger on August 2, 1980;  they were married 32 years.  Bob worked for the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons for 25 years, retiring in 2006.  As an avocation, Bob carried the message of sobriety at St. Clare and Divine Savior Hospitals as well as the Columbia County Jail.  As a hobby, Bob enjoyed making stone and wood creations.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen;  their children, Kathryn “Kate” and Christopher (wife, Alicia) Thalacker;  his mother, Mary Jean Thalacker;  his sister, Janice (Larry) Theberge;  his brothers, Gary (Mary) and James (Karen) Thalacker;  his in-laws, Ted and Darlene Krueger;  along with other family members and friends.  Bob was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Thalacker and his grandparents.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 850 Armstrong St., Portage, WI, with the Rev. Daniel Kelm officiating.  Inurnment will be private in Sheldon Cemetery, Marquette County.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home, 430 W. Wisconsin St., Portage.    

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Rape Crisis Center, 2801 Coho Street, Suite 301, Madison, WI 53713, or The Jesuit Retreat House, 4800 Fahrnwald Road, Oshkosh, WI 54902.

The family of Robert Thalacker wishes to thank Pastor Dan Kelm, Fr. John Schwantes, Mark and Annie Snow, Peter and Corinne Magnoni, the staff at Lodi High School, and numerous medical and hospice personnel, along with family and friends who cared for him and his family.

“There’s a Divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.”  William Shakespeare